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Replica of the Virgin Mary’s House draws Catholic devotees in the Philippines
The 67-square-meter shrine mirrors the original in Turkey and has drawn Catholic pilgrims since opening, with workers of different faiths joining the project.
- Located 70 kilometers south of Manila in Alfonso, Cavite, the Ephesus House opened in 2024 as a replica of the shrine in Ephesus, Turkey where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her final years.
- Marian devotion, dating back to the 16th century when Spanish colonizers introduced Christianity, shapes the faith of nearly 80% of the Philippines' 113 million residents who often refer to the Blessed Mother.
- The 67-square-meter structure mirrors the original site's stone dimensions, with interior Marian icons donated by Philippine culture advocate Maritess Pineda, who found a permanent home for her collection.
- Father Dennis Paez, the project's priest-leader, designed the site as a 'place of refuge,' while devotee Rupert Suarez, who visited the original shrine, expressed feeling 'so very blessed' by the replica.
- The site has hosted pilgrimages, including celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, reflecting devotion historically linked to the 1986 People Power Revolution that ousted President Ferdinand Marcos.
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12 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left8Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Left
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Left
67% Left
L 67%
C 33%
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